- Date
- October 13, 1992, 06:11 local (13:11 UTC)
- Place
- Rosemead, CA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3940FPiper PA28-140
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921013041709A
- Case key
- 27805
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation and intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors relating to this accident were the prevailing low ceiling and fog.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The noninstrument rated pilot departed the airport with the prevailing weather to be less than VFR in controlled airspace. Dense fog surrounded the area. Ground witnesses heard the aircraft circle the residential area several times. One ground witness observed the aircraft plummet from the fog shrouded area and crash into the roof of a residence. The witness reported that the fog began at above the height of a telephone pole. Safety board investigators did not find any evidence of any preexisting malfunctions or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3940F
- Reported as
- Piper PA28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28762570
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Maples, Madge R.
- Registered owner
- Maples, Madge R.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1992
- Departed
- EMT · El Monte, CA
- Destination
- L15 · Henderson, NV
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,103 total · 2,066 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Lowest ceiling
- 150 ft
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.